Flydubai flight incident involving cockpit attack
Story essentials
Smit Machchhar, Flydubai co-pilot
Mid-air, en route to Tel Aviv; landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
October 2026
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COMPAMIR Editorial Team
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Read our editorial policy- Earlier version 110/3/2026, 1:21:17 AM
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight to Tel Aviv. The aircraft plunged 17,000 feet before passengers and crew regained control. The plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act.
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Flydubai pilot attacked by co-pilot mid-flight
Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot during a flight to Tel Aviv. The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident has been described as a terrorist act by UAE officials. The captain survived and is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital.
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Cockpit Confidential: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel
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This book provides deep insights into the realities of cockpit operations, pilot psychology, and the rigorous security protocols that govern modern commercial aviation, helping readers understand the gravity of an internal security breach.
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